MIAMI -- ESPN Watch List defensive end Chad Thomas (Miami/Booker T. Washington) earned defensive line MVP this past weekend at the Miami NFTC for his performance. But even with his standout effort, the 6-foot-4, 233-pound athlete believes areas of his game need to improve.

"Today was a learning experience for me, and once I picked up on what the coaches were telling me, I think I did all right," Thomas said. "My strength is getting off the ball and I learned that I need to use my hands better, staying outside and just keep going."

Thomas has several offers from top schools in the Southeast, and though he claims no leader he said some schools have had his attention for a while.

"No one is really standing out," Thomas said, "but there are three schools I have liked since growing up and that is LSU, FSU and Miami."

Thomas explained his interest in each of the three:

LSU: "The defensive ends there, I like how they play and how they work hard. I watched their defensive ends with my coach and I just liked how they used their technique. Their ends are ranked among the top in all of college and they play in the SEC, which is big-boy football."

Miami: "That is the home school and right around the corner for me. Duke Johnson played against me one year and just seeing him grow up over a year ... They are fast-paced, just like how we are at Booker T."

FSU: "That is another big-boy program that is basically an SEC school in the ACC. They are just a powerhouse and I like that. Plus [high school teammate] Matthew Thomas just went there, so that makes it even better."

Thomas said there was one school that he was hoping to hear more from, and last week he got his wish.

"I was hoping to hear more from Alabama," Thomas said. "I see them as like the top school in college football. I talked to them this week, though; I talked to coach [Mario] Cristobal."

As for when he will make a decision, Thomas said his recruitment will likely play out until signing day, which was when Matthew Thomas made his decision to go with FSU.

"I want to make my decision at the end on signing day after taking my official visits," Chad Thomas said. "LSU, Miami and FSU are up there as far as their chances of getting an official visit, but I still have to see for sure."